Professional basketball player Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Greek Freak, has been often targeted by racists. The latest incident occurred two two days ago in New Orleans, when a Greek journalist asked coach Steve Kerr at a press conference whether the Milwaukee Bucks star was a “Black Greek.”

The question triggered an outrage and a couple of hours later, COSMOTE TV summoned the reporter Rigas Dardalis. The sports channel of the biggest pay TV network in Greece issued a statement saying

“The specific position in no way reflects the principles and values of the company,” adding that the reporter was called off from New Orleans.

The son of immigrants from Nigeria, Giannis Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece on December 6, 1994. Three years earlier, his parents had moved from Lagos, Nigeria.

Even though Antetokounmpo and three of his four brothers were born in Greece, they did not automatically qualify to receive full Greek citizenship. For the first 18 years of his life, Antetokounmpo had no papers, neither from Nigeria, nor from Greece.

He officially gained Greek citizenship on May 9, 2013.

The Greek state gave him citizenship in fast-track procedures after he made a name as a basketball player. The citizenship was granting because of his special services to the country, it was said back then.

The whole Antetokounmpo family moved from Athens to Milwaukee in early 2014.

At 22 years and 74 days old, Giannis Antetolounmpo will become the youngest player in franchise history to start in an All-Star Game, and will mark the first time a Greek player is an NBA All-Star.